I never really chose a side in the Delena vs. Stelena debate, but I was enjoying Damon and Elena’s newfound relationship. Sure, the romantic tension had been brewing for seasons, but the playfulness of it all felt fresh. After four seasons of broody Damon, we finally got to see him be affectionate. As for Elena, well, she grew on me too. Elena in Season 5 is a far cry from the pathetic mess she was in Season 1, and being with Damon had lit a fire in her that I didn’t even know existed.

So that’s why I’m pleading with the TVD Powers That Be to not turn this Stefan saga into another excuse to introduce the love triangle back into the main plot. Elena chose Damon. It’s over. Dunzo. However, I still have a sinking feeling in my stomach that this is all going to turn into another “Elena is just really confused about her feelings” storyline. SIGH.

The signs are there: Elena has been having dreams of Stefan, while he’s been locked in a box at the bottom of a quarry having hallucinations about her. Then, Silas uses his mind control to try and get Elena to kill Damon by using her anger towards him as bait. And do you know the one thing that calms Elena down? Stefan — thinking about Stefan and how much pain he’s in. It’s a hard pill to swallow for Damon.

As they pack up and get ready to leave Whitmore — no, Elena isn’t dropping out after only two weeks, she’s just on a mission to find Stefan — Elena makes a promise to Damon. She loves him and only him. When they find Stefan, Damon will still have her heart. The sexy Salvatore seems to buy it, but do we? Not for a second.

Now it’s possible Elena feels guilty for the same reasons Damon feels guilty — while they were sexing up the Salvatore mansion all summer, Stefan was suffering. But at some point Elena is going to have to learn to let go. She can’t have both Salvatore brothers. They’re not a two-for-one special.

But Elena is going to have to figure out her feelings soon because thanks to Sheriff Forbes, Stefan is on the loose — and he’s hungry! Hopefully, his visions of Elena were able to keep him from flipping the switch. Although, I wouldn’t mind Paul Wesley playing two bad boys this season.

While Elena might be up to her old tricks, there are more than a few surprising relationships developing elsewhere. The saving grace of Season 5 — other than Paul Wesley’s devilish portrayal of Silas, of course — is Katherine. Nina Dobrev may be taking more risks with Elena this season, but Katherine is the true star. Every exaggerated mannerism is near perfect. Watching Katherine battle a sinus infection was pure gold on Nina Dobrev’s part. Seeing her have so much fun as Katherine makes me sad that Elena has progressed so little in four seasons. Maybe Elena can learn a few survival tactics from her doppelganger.

But watching Katherine bond with Jeremy in “True Lies” was especially intriguing. These two have a complicated history. After all, Katherine did kill Jeremy to resurrect Silas. However, after years of running away — and centuries of looking out for only herself — she saved Jeremy. Not only did she shoot Silas, but she put her own life at risk to do so. It was one small step for their friendship, but one giant leap in humanity for Katherine. Maybe she can fit in with the Scooby Gang after all.

Yet, when it comes to sacrifices, no one is better at making them than Matt Donovan. He distracted Silas so Jeremy and Katherine could make a smooth getaway. Of course, by “distracted,” I mean, got himself killed. Luckily, he was wearing the Gilbert ring — which he should never, ever take off — so he wasn’t really dead. But he did wind up on the Other Side, where he saw none other than Bonnie. (Apparently, that happens when you use the Gilbert ring. You wake up on the Other Side and have to search for your body.)

She told Matt what happened to her, and even though he won’t remember their conversation when he wakes up, he finally got through to the stubborn witch. For the first time since her death, she realizes she’s scared. She’s not ready to be dead.

I, on the other hand, am ready for this ghost storyline to be over. Either find a way to come back to the world of the living, or make yourself useful and try to find a way to stop Silas from tormenting your friends! I hope Jeremy convinces Bonnie to come clean soon. Elena and Caroline deserve to know.

Speaking of Caroline, she’s “deferring” from having sex with Tyler since he deferred from her life. These two are so headed for Splitsville (and I’m not just saying that as a devoted Klaroline fan). I just really miss single Caroline. This is your freshman year of college! Don’t waste it on being sad on some boy. Instead, have a fling with a sexy upperclassman. Enter Jesse, the cute boy Caroline stood up at the frat party. Sure, she may have a boyfriend, but that’s not going to stop Caroline from taking a peek at what else is out there. These two also have insane chemistry. One scene and I’m already hooked. Hey, anyone is better than a werewolf who stood you up to go camping in the Appalachian Mountains.

“True Lies” did little to advance the plot — we still don’t know why Silas is after Katherine or what happened to Megan — but it did throw in some interesting twists and turns. Jesse told Elena that creepy Professor Wes may belong to a “secret society” at Whitmore. Does this creepy society know about vampires? And why does Dr. Wes seem so fond of Elena (seriously, is she catnip for sociopaths?).

And then there’s Nadia, who very clearly has her own agenda after she killed her own accomplice in front of Silas. Is she joining Silas in his efforts to find Katherine?

Only time will tell, Vampire Diaries fans. This episode might have been full of filler, but next week looks like a killer — especially with a recently resurrected Stefan on the rampage.